Seed-separating method and apparatus



July 16, 1929 H. R. WARREN SEED SEPARATING METHOD AND APPARATUS FiledDec. 15, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet l July 16, 1929. H. R. WARREN SEEDSEPARATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 2Julylfi, 1929.-

H. R. WARREN SEED SEPARATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1927 9Sheets-Sheet 3 III.

Harry R.Wavremy 6,1929. H. WARREN 1.72l,423

SEED SEPARATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 192'? 9 Sheets-Sheet4 lfi v V jam-w @215:

v GttornegS y 1929- H. R.. WARREN I 1.721,423

SEED SEPARATIING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheets Zhwentor l larrg R- warren- (Ittornegs y 1929. H. R. WARREN 1,721,423

SEED SEPARATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1927 v 9Sheets-Sheet 6 714 I14 I u 7 11s ga -r 1 1 1J2 'IL- 4 7. 1 0312.

. I i I l Z'mfientor Harry R. Ri l-reinffirkmw AZ tax:

Gttornegs y 1929. H. R. WARREN 1.721,,423

SEED SEPARATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 193'? e Sheets-Sheet7 Wild-'13.

Gttornegs July 16, 1929. H. R. WARREN 1.72'L

SEED SEPARATING METHQD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1927 s Sheets$heet 81&5

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' (Ittoruegs July 16, 1929. H. R. WARREN SEED S BPARAT I NG METHOD ANDAPPARATUS I 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filc} Dec. 15, 1927 I I Bummer Warren,-

Gttorncg S Patented July 16, 1929. I

UNITED STATES OFFICE. j

HARRYR. WARREN, or cnrceeo, rumors, ASSIGNOR, BY mssnn'ass renmrs, r0

WABREN-TEED SEED COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ll'E-,vena

SEED-SEPARATING METHOD AND APPARATUS.

Application filed December 15,1927. Serial No. 240,246.

The present invention relates to the art of separation from each otherof seeds of different species, or seeds of the same species Y butdiffering in quality. In this art it is a matter of prime importance toseparate weed seeds from those of value for planting purposes; and it islikewise highly important to separate thoroughly matured seedv of strongvitality from immatured or otherwise defective seed; all to the endthatseed used for planting a crop shall be not onl free from weeds butshall, also be of such vltality and germinating quality as to producethe best possible crop.

As a. rule seeds of different species of plants differ more 'or less inspecific gravity, and this is also true of difierent qualities of seedof the same species, and it has heretofore been proposed to takeadvantage of these differences in specific gravity in classifying theseeds, by immersing the seeds in a liquid of suchspecific gravity thatthe lighter seeds would float therein or thereon, While the heavierseeds would sink.- The process and apparatus of my reissue Patents Nos.16,981 and 17,003 are based upon this principle of gravity separation.There are,

. however,certain seeds of different species 1 that are so nearly alikein size and weight seeds when planted absorb moisture quicklyas; torender it diflicult to efiectively separate them in a gravity solution,and this is, to a large extent, true of different qualities of seed ofsome of the same species of plants, particularly alfalfa, the cloversand other legumes. \Vith some kinds of seeds, such as the legumesmentioned above, the best seeds,-

possessing the highest, vitality and therefore capable of producing thestrongest growth when planted, have an exceedingly hard shell, whileimmature, inferior seeds of low vitality have acomparatively soft shell.The result of this is that the inferior and germinate readily, while thesuperior seeds take a long time (even a year or more) to germinatebecause of their hard, moisture-resisting shell. Hereto-fore eii'ortshave been made to hasten the germination of the seeds of high quality byscarifying such seeds, to the end that moisture essential to germinationmay more readily penetrate .the shells. This scarification of the seedis objectionable since it is found difficult to uniformly scarify theseed-some commercial scale. 1

With these objects in view the invention will be over-scarified, othersnot enough.-

Furthermore, unless the high grade seeds are separated from the lowgrade seeds before scarification, the latter will be scarified anddamaged. The advantage to the plant- 'er of pure seed of the highestvitality and It is an object of the present invention to provide aprocess and apparatus whereby seeds of difl'erent species may'beeffectively classified or separated from each other and seeds of thesame species maybe accurately I graded or classified as to quality. Itis further an object of the invention-to provide a process and apparatusof this character that shall be capable-of economic'operation on aconsists:

First, the lnvention consists of a process of separating, or classifyinginto separate .classes, seeds whether of the sameor of 'diflerentspecies aid of substantially the same specific gravity, by so treatingthe entire mass of seeds to be classified as to alter the relativebuoyancy of thediiferent classes,

and then immersing the seeds in a liquld of such specific'gravitythatone class of the seeds will settle therein while seeds of another classwill float thereon or therein,

whereby the classes of seeds are formed into strata according to theirrelative buoyancy,

and then separately removing the strata,

each without breaking up the other stratum or strata.

- Themethod of treating the mass of seeds to alter the relative buoyancyof the difierent classes of the mass depends upon the kind or kinds ofseeds to be classified andcharacteristics.

their diflering physical Seeds of some species of plants absorb moisturemuch more readily than others, and with some species, notablythe'legumes, the

seeds of one class, as, those of immature or diseased character, absorbmoisture more readily than" those of another class, such as the fullymatured seeds ofhigh germinat 7 ing quality. With all seeds of thisgeneral character the preferred treatment for changing the relativebuoyancy of the difierent classes is to soakthe entire mass of seeds ina liquid having aspecific gravity less than that of the separatingliqu1d to be employed, as described and claimed in my reissue Patent No.17,003. I have discovered that, if the seeds be soaked in water at atemperature between 80 and 100 F. for a period of from fifteen totwenty-five mmutes, excellent results will be secured, but

it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited tothe use of water as the soaking liquid or to the preferred temperatureor duration of soaking, since these will vary with different conditions.It has been found, for example, that if alfalfa seed be soaked in waterat a temperature of 90 F. for twenty minutes the immature and thediseased seeds, because of their compara- -tively soft. shells, will.absorb the .water,

while the best and well mhtured seeds, be-

cause of their hard, flinty'shells, will absorb little or none. Theresult of this is that I, the relative buoyancy of the 'two classes ofseeds is changed, and when the entire mass of seeds is immersed in aliquid whose specific gravity slightly exceeds that of water the twoclasses of'seeds will readily separate one from the other and formstrata in such liquid. Moreover, it will be found that the hard-shelledseeds of high value, that .have been subjected to this soaking step, andafter separation dried at a temperature of about 150 'F., as hereinafterdescribed, will germinate much quicker than seeds of the same qualitythat have not been so treated, and this without the previously practicedstep of scarification.

While the soaking treatment is effective.

. the mass is then treated with a finely divided material, such as veryfine sea sand, which has a specific gravity exceeding that of the.stieky-eoated seed being treated. The heavier material, such as the seasand,- adheres. to the sticky seeds forming a cement-like coatingthereon, 'but does not adhere to those classes of seeds which do nothave the sticky coat. This effects such a change in the relativebuoyancy of the two classes as'to render easy the separation of amixture of these two classes ina liquid of proper specific gravity inwhich the heavier, sand-coated seeds will settle, while the lighteruncoated seeds will float'therein or thereon; While, as indicated above,differing physical characteristics may be taken advantage of to effect achange in the relative buoyancy of different classes of seedspreparatory to separating. them by use of a gravity liquid, it will befound as a general, though not an invariable, rule, that noxious weedsand valuable farm seeds can have their relative buoyancy so altered bysoaking in warm water as to render their effective separation from grainand'valuable farm seeds by a proper gravity "liquid an easy matter.

Second, the invention consists of a suitable tank or container havingupper and lower foraminous partitions between which the seeds areintroduced, and means for passing water up and down through saidpartitions and the seeds to wash the latter, and then removing the waterwhile leaving the seeds between the foraminous partitions where, ifdesired, they can be subjected to a separating processQ Third, theinvention consists in a suitable tank or container having means forintroducing seeds therein, preferably from above, and means forintrmlucing a gravity liquid, preferably from below, whereby the seedsare separated into strata, and means for re moving each stratum with itsenveloping gravity liquid without breaking up the ren'iaining stratum orstrata, all combined with means for removing the seed of each stratumfrom its enveloping liquid and then transof the gravity liquid stilladhering to the seeds. the spray water being directed from thecentrifugal to a suitable tank to be used in mixing new batches ofgravity liquid. From the centrifugal the washed seeds are preferablypassed to a warm air drier and thence to a bagging machine.

The specific gravity of the seeds and grains to be separated in,acommercial plant varies widely and the specific gravity of theseparating liquid used in the separating tank has to be nicely adjustedto meet these widelyvarying conditions, and the invention consists,

Fourth, in a separating tank, preferably on an upper floor a-nd a seriesof storage tanks, preferably on a lower floor, for gravity separatingsolutions whose specific gravit'ies are graduated from that of thelowest to that of the highest required gravity, with connections fromeach storage tank tothe separating tank (preferably through anintermediate tank), and return connections from the separating tank toeach storage tank, combined with a source of power (as compressed air)for elevating the gravity liquid from the storage tanks to theseparating tank, the application of the power being controlled by aselective device, as a switch, handled by the operator at the separatingtank. The return of the gravity liquid from the separating tank to itsproper storage tank is effected by gravity and the use of a distributingfunnel in the return connections. Preferably each of the storage tanksis provided with means, as a' steam coil, for heating the liquidtherein, and preferably also reach storage tank is equipped with a floatsupporting a disk of foraminous material, to prevent the returningliquid, which enters the tank at the top, from stirring up sediment inthe bottom of the tank.

I In some cases a straight liquid such as water or alcohol may beemployed as the gravityliquid, but in commercial practice solutions,such as a salt or sugar solution are preferred, since the specificgravity of the solution may be readily controlled by the strength of thesolution.

used is meant any liquid, whether a solution or otherwise, which isemployed to stratify different classes of seeds according to theirrelative specific gravities.

Fifth, the invention includes a tank or other container for water,together with means for heating the water in the tank. a second tank orcontainer for soaking seeds,

connections between said tanks, a gravity separating tank connected tosaid soaking tank, with means whereby power. preferably compressed air,may be employed to transfer water from said water tank. to said soakingtank and from the latter tosaid separating tank, and means for returningthe water from the separating tank to the water tank or to waste, asdesired. Preferably a. plurality of soaking tanks are employed, eachhaving the connections with the water and the separating tanks andselective means under the control of the operator are provided, to theend that water may be directed to any one of the soaking tanks at will,and

soaked seed and water may be transferred at will from any soaking tankto the separating tank; This renders it. possible to withdraw a. batchof seeds from one soaking tank for treatment in the separating tankwhile other batches of seeds'are being treated in the other soakingtanks, thus greatly ex pediting the operations and increasing the plantscapacity. Preferably the soaking and separating tanks arein an elevatedposition and the water tank on a lower level to the end that the watermay be returned to the latter by gravity. I I

The invention further consists of certain combinations of elements andarrangement tion as defined in the appended claims. Ac-

cording, while the methods and apparatus are herein describedspecifically and indetail, it is to be understood thatsuch specific anddetailed description is not designed to define the limits of theinvention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In said drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is'a diagrammatic elevational view of the apparatus of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an ele- .vation of a portion of Fig. '1with the mani By the term gravity liquid as hereinfold shown somewhatbelow its proper position in order to clearl illustrate the pipesconnecting the same with the several tanks;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the separating tank;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the control valves intheseparating tank;

Fig. "5 is a perspective view of the central column of the separatingtank;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the air injecting ring in the separatingtank;

Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the separating tank;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of the seed-' receiving basket in thelower part of the separating tank and the valve controlling the same; 7t

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the stirrer used in the separating tankFig. 10 is a seed-receiving basket below the stirrer;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on the line 1111- of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through one Fig. 14; is a to plan view ofFig. 13; a

Fig. 15 is a orizontal section through Fig. 12 on the line 15--15; 1

Fig. 16 is a perspective of the float employed in the majority of thestorage tanks; and v Fig. 17 is an elevational view of amodified form ofa portion of the apparatus.

Like reference characters throughout the several views refer to likeparts. In the preferred form of the apparatus illustrated in thedrawings the separating tank, in which the seeds are separated orclassified, is located at the highest point of the plant; the storagetanks for the various liquids are located on the lowest floor of theplant, and suitable power means, here shown for purposes of illustrationas a compressed air system, are employed to elevate theliquid from thestorage tanks when desired for use in the separating tank. Thisarrangement has the advantage that the liquids can be returned from theseparating tank to the storage tanks by gravity; also the seeds afterbeing separated or classified can be transferred from the separatingtank by gravity to the several parts of the. apparatus employed to freethem from the liquid, dry them, etc. Referring first to Fig. 2, A is aseparating tank, B is a tank containing gravity liquid which tank isconnected with the separating tank A to the end that the gravity liquidmay be transferred from the storage tank to the separating tank and ifdesired returned from the separating tank by gravity to the stora e tankB. C is a clear water tank, also 'suita ly connected to the separatingtank, to the end that water may be passed through the seeds for washingthe same. D and E are flow tanks connected both at the bottom and thetop to the separating tank A, to the end that either gravity liquid orwater may be caused to flow upward through the separating tank and intothe flow tanks.

F is a manifold to which the separating tank and all of the tanks B, C,D and E, as well as an additional tank G, hereinafter to be described,are connected by suitable piping, to the end that the contents'of anyone of these tanks may be passed to the manifold and thence to theseparating tank, or from the separating tank A back to the tank fromwhich it came or to any other of the tanks as desired, the connectingpipes ing tank A, a number of gravity liquid storage tanks 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7 and 8 are provided and are preferably located on the lower floorof the plant, each of said tanks being connected b a pipe leading fromthe lower portion of t e storage tank to the top of the tank B, theseseveral pipes being here being controlled by suitable gate valves,

which gate valves may be, and'in most cases are, controlled by acompressed air line oper- """'able from an operatorsswitchboard H.

Tanks J, Fig. 1, are provided for soaking certainclasses of seed inorder to change the relative buoyancy thereof before they aretransferred to theseparating tank A.

For the purpose of supplying gravity liquids of varying or graduateddensity to the storage tank B and thence to the separat designated as 1,2', 3',- 4', 5, 6', 7' and 8'. Suitable ower means, here shown as acompressed a1r system having branches, entering the storage tanks 1 to 8in the tops thereof, are employed to transfer the gravity liquid fromthe storage tanks 1 to 8 to the tank B. The operator at the switchboardH selects the particular storage tank from which he desires to transferthe gravity liquid to the tank B and effects the operation thereofthrough air-control pipes 9, shown in dotted lines in Fig, .1, whichair-control pipes control the operation of a motor, hereinafter to bedescribed, on the top of each storage tank.-

By this means the operator is enabled from his position at theseparating tank to transfer from any one of the storage tanks theparticular gravity liquid best suitcd'to effect the separation of theparticular class of seeds being treated in the separation tank. Aftersaid separation the gravity liquid can be returned, by gravity, throughconnections hereinafter to be described, to the particular storage tanksfrom which it was originally elevated to the tank B.

As a preliminary step to effecting the separation or classificationofseeds in the separating tank, it is preferredto wash the seeds inclean water, the water being transferred, preferably by air pressure,from the tank C to the separating tank A. Likewise, when it is desiredto changeYthe relative buoyancy of seeds to be separated they are soakedin the tanks J. The water supply for the tank C and the tank s J iscontained in a tank 10, preferably located on the lower floor, whichtank has a pipe 10' leading from the lower portion thereof to the top ofthe tank C, and the lattertank is connected by suitable piping 11leading from the lower portion thereof to the soaking tanks J. Thetransfer of-water from the tank 10 to the tank C and from the latter tothe soaking tanks J is effected by air pressure delivered at the top ofthe respective tanks 10 and C, which air pressure is controlled from theswitchboard H through the air-control pipes 9, indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1, in a manner exactly similar to the control of the tanks 1 to8 inclusive. The specific mechainafter more fully described.

The seedsthat are soaked in the tanks J,- together with the water inwhich they are soaked, can be transferred from the soaking tanks J tothe separating tank A through a pipe12 suitably connected to the bottomsof the respective soaking tanks. This transfer -nism for effecting thiscontrol will be herethe upper portion of the column 21 and the p currentof W r entering the P through control pipes 9, 9. On the lower loweredge of the basket'46 is-suppor e from. the soaking tanks can beeffected by which; carries on its lower end a valve 31 of any suitablepower means, as a pump 13, Fig. foraminous material preferably in theshape 1, which is preferably used when the soakof a truncated cone,which valve acts to close ing tanks are on a level below that of the,the lower end of the foraminous seed-receiv-' separating tank A, asillustrated in Fig. 1. ing basket when the valve is in its lower It isapparent, however, that if the soaking position and which, when in itselevated positanks J are located on a level above the tion, permits theseed to'escap'e from said separating tank A, this transfer of the seedbasket into the lower section of the separat-- and the water in whichthey are soaked, from ing tank. Vertical movement is imparted to.

the tanks J toto the tank A can be effected the sleeve by means of theframework-32, by gravity. Having thus described in a general way throughthe top of the separating tank, and the outline of the apparatus, adetailed de-. on the exterior of the tank are connecte t scription willnow be given of the several a crossbar 33, which bar is connected to twoparts, after which the operation of the apcables 34 passing oversuitable pulleys to- Fig.4, the vertical parts of which extend outparatus as a whole will beset forth.

The separating tank.

a crossbar 36 to which is connected a cable 37 Figs. 4 and 7., and thelatter cable extends over a pulley 38. to a motor 39, which isPreferably an air-controlled motor controlled from' the switchboard Hbythe operator through the air-control pipes 9. Pref- -truncatedcone, thediameter of the top por-.

by a receiving funnel 14, and after sepai'aly the Sleeve Q e his pp tionthe several strata leave the separating P01131011 a eohleel e metal eh ag tank through a bottom port or opening 15. 3 and 5, P9 Whleh the seeds:when y Preferably the bottomof the tank is in the h dm t p h h tehk,fhh1 h form of an inverted, truncated cone 16 with PP end y Whleh y theport 15 at the lower central portion tlihhted in the basket h thuseYohhhg f thereof. The body of the separating ta k collection of theseeds in a mass m one s1de mayif desired be formed of a glass cylinder,the e but preferably it is a metal cylinder provided The helihemef h hee5 supported with a glass section or panel 17 through y e hol'lzohtel llh P 'eh y which the operator can observe the separatfel'emlhohs h e aShh'ehea y he i action within the tank, while h upper 42. The stirringblades 29 on the hollow portion 18 and the lower portion 19 are pref-Shaft 23 are located in the tank somewhat erably of metal. Supportedwithin the upbelow the partition 41, and the hollow colpelportion of theeparating tank is a eed; lllnn a Series of ports there receivingbasket20 of foralninous material he hi Ports recovered y fel'emihohs andpreferably in the form of an inverted, metel'lal 44 f' mesh as he P hpassage. of the finest seeds to be treated 111 tion of the basket being'the same as that of. h sepamtoh The bottom of the hohow the interiordiameter of the separating tank. eohhhh 21 P into the bottom Portion ofA hollow column 21, Fi .5, is suitably the Separating tank and the Saidp end 'niounted axially within the separating tank Said hohhw leohhhh isProvided with a .A and is supported at its upper end by the Yelvev hWhleh h y opens t f i tank, d at i lower end by a its own weight orunder the lnfluenoe bf the.

spider' 22 carried by the bottom '16 of the (downward current f water.Within h tank. A hollow shaft 23, Fig. 9, surrounds 10w column,but-whlch' can be closed y an upper end of the shaft 23 projects abovethe Tethlg tehk'thlehgh the P top of the column 21 and exterior to thetop of the tank. This hollow shaft 23 has on tank-1S ferammous basketPertltloh 46 its upper end a, bevel gear 24 meshing the shape of .aninverted truncated COUGA a bevel gear 25 'on a motor shaft 26 of a ThePPe edge of this h h is hPPQ h motor 27, Fig. 7,- driven by any suitabley h walls-of'flleseparatmg tank, the

oure of power, f bl byicompressed ameter of the basketbeing the same asthat Near the bottom portion of the separating air under control fromtheswitchboa-rd H, of the interior diameter of the 'tank The end of 'thehollow shaft 23 is mounted a bar, mS 22' Pf the spider 22- 28 providedwith. downwardly extending R ferring now to stepped paddles 29, and whenthe motor 27 which is capable .of vertical movement on is operated thestepped paddles are revolved e hOIlOW 00 A e? liBndS within theseparating tank A and serve transversely across said sleeve and throughstir the contents thereof. 1

Exterior to the hollow shaft 23 and verin the hollow column '21, towhich bar is setically slidable thereon is a sleeve 30, Fig. 4, cured arod 50 extending upward within the oppositely disposed vertical slots49, Fig. 5,

Fig. s, 4718 a sleeve 1 column with its upward end projecting outthrough the top of the separating tank, where it is connected to a cable51 passing over pulleys 52, 53 to a motor 54, which preferably and ashere shown, is an air motor controlled by the operator from theswitchboard H through air-controlled pipes 9, as described inconnectionwith other motors. Connected to the sleeve 47 is a conical valve 55, seeFigs. 3 and 8, which in its lower position seats upon the lower portionof the basket 46 and closes the annular opening therethrough, but whichin its upper position, shown in Figs. 3 and 8, permits the seed to flowout of said basket.

Near the top of the separating tankisa pipe, preferably in the form of aring 56,

ig. 3, connected with a water supply pipe 57 This pipe 56 is perforatedfor the purpose of permitting water to be sprayed within the top of thebasket 20. Below the partition 41 and above the stirring paddles 29 isanother perforated pipe ring 58 having perforations both on its upperand its lower side, said ring being connected with the water pipe 59,whereby water may be sprayed into the separating tank both in an upwardand in a downward direction. Immediately' below the lower opening of thebasket 46 is aperforated ring orpipe 60, see Figs. 3'and 6, having avalved pipe 61 leading thereto from a source ofcompressed an under thecontrol of the operator of the switchboard H, by means of air-controlledes, not shown.

xterior to the separating tank A is a vertical pipe'62 extending from apoint just above the basket 46 to and preferably above the top of thetank, which pipe is preferably provided with a foraminous cover or top63. This pipe 62 has two branches 62 and 62", Fig. 3, leading from theinterior of the separating tank, the branch 62 entering the tank justbelow the partition 41, and the branch 62" entering the tank just abovethe basket 46.

Referring to Figs. '1, 2, 3, 10, and 11, F is the manifold, here-shownin the form of an octagonal chamber having in each of its faces a port64. This manifold as shown 1n Flgs. 1 and 2, is located verticallybe-'neath the separating tank A and on a level slightly below the tanks B,C, D, E and G,

and pipes b, c, d, e and g extend from the bottom portion of each of therespective tanks each to one of the ports 64 in the manifold F. .As hereshown there are five of said pipes, and it will be readily understoodthat the other ports of said manifold,

if not used for connections to other tanks,

will be suitably closed. In Fig. 2 the manifold is shown in a somewhatdistorted position, that is, on a level farther below the bottoms of thetanks B, C, D, E and G, than in would be in practice,the preferredposition being shown in Fig. 1. Each of the pipes b, c, d, e. and g isprovided at a point between the respective tanks and the manifold with agate valve interposed between, the respective tanks and the manifold, asshown on Fig. 2. These gate valves control the flow of liquid from therespective tanks to the manifold, and are indicated on vFig. 2 by. thereference characters 6', 0', d",

e and g. These several valves are operated by compressed air motorsunder the control of air-control pipes 9, indicated in dotted lines onFigs. 1 and 2, leading to the switchboard H. c

A pipe 66 extends from the port 15 in the bottom of the tank Avertically down-. ward and into the manifold F, extending within thelatter to near the bottom portion thereof where it is connected to asuitable purpose of stiffening the basket at this portion, it ispreferably provided with ribs 71 extending between thebasket and thewalls of the lower portion of the chamber-'68,

which is also by preference in the form of an inverted, truncated cone.A port 72, Fig. 10, is provided in the lower portion of the wall of themanifold F in a plane below the ports 64, and also in a plane below theendv of the pipe 66. To this port is connected a pipe 73 by means ofwhich liquid in the system, above the plane of the pipe 7 3,, may

be drained by-gravity in a manner herelnafter described. A pipe 74 isattached tothe lower end of the chamber 68 and at its bottom end isprovided with a valve 75 operated by. an air motor under the control ofair-control pipes 9, Fig. 10, leading to an operators switchboard at thecentrifugal. Immediately below the valve 75 is 'a pipe or distributingnozzle 76 mounted to turn I on a horizontal support 77 around a verticalaxis.

This distributing nozzle '76 extends downward and outward from the pipev74 and can be swung around its vertical axis so as to bring itsdelivery end over a centrife ugal drier 78, Fig. 1, or over awater-receiving funnel 79, as maybe desired. The centrifugal drier isoperated by a powerful highspeed electrical motor -80. An automaticwater sprinkling deviceSl is mounted in a position to spray water, whendesired, into the centrifugal drier 78, the water being supplied theretofrom a watermain 82, which watermain also has a. branch 82' fordelivering water into a funnel 79, and .a' branch 82" for deliveringwater into a liquiddistributing funnel 83. This funnel 83 has connectedto its bottom a swinging pipe 84 by means of which the liquid from thefunnel 83 may be directed into the various pipes 1", 2", 3", 4", 5",6'7, 7" and 8", leading to the respective tanks 1 to 8v inclusive. In.like manner this pipe 84 serves to distribute liquid from the funnel 83to the various other tanks on the lower floor, hereinafter to .bedescribed, and to the sewer or waste pipe 85. A pipe 86 leads from thefunnel 79 to the water tank 10. The liquid thrown off by the centrifugaldrier 78 is received in. a lower chamber 87 whence it is delivered by aconnecting pipe into the distributing funnel 83. When they centrifugaldrier is stopped any seed that may be'cdntained therein drops into alower chamber 88 whence it is distributed by a distributing pipe 89 toseparate funnels leading to the desired driers or other points ofdelivery. The distributing pipes 84 and 92 on the right hand side of theseparating tank as shown in Fig. 3. The pipe D is controlled by-a gatevalve 91', and the pipe E is controlled by a gate valve .92, each ofsaid valves being controlled from switch board H through air-controlpipes 9, indicated in dotted lines, asin the case of all the other.valves.

The tank 93, Fig.1, located preferably on the lower floor with the otherstorage tanks, is connected by a pipe 94 leading from the bottom thereofto the top of tank G, and liquid can be transferred from the tank 93 tothe tank G by air pressure con-' trolled by air-control pipes 9 leadingto the .switchboard H. Any special character of liquid whether water,gravity solution or otherwise, maybe stored inthe tank 93 and at thewill of the operator transferred tothe tank G, whence it may be suppliedto. the separating tank A as desired by the operator. Y

When seeds that havebeen treated with a gravity solution in theseparating tank A are delivered to the centrifugal 7 8 they'have acertain amount of moisture clinging thereto after all that thecentrifugal-can throw off or separate therefrom, and 'it is to wash offthis additional moisturewith its contained chemical forming the solutionthat the Waterspray device 81 isprovided. In order to salvage any of thechemical'entering into the solution that may be carried by this spraywater, the latter is delivered from the centrifugal intothe distributingfunnel means of which the temperature 0 83 whence it is delivered by thepipe 84, through the pipe 95, to a salvage tank 96, which is preferablof glass or provided with a glass pane From this tank the salvagedsolution may be transferred by air pressure through pipe '97, leadingfrom the. lower. portion thereof to the top of tank .98, which acts as are-se'ttling or an overflow tank for the tank 96. From the tank 98 thesolution may be transferred through the pipe' 99 leading from the lowerportion thereof to the distributing funnel 83 and by that funneldirected to any one of the storage tanks 1 to 8, as desired, for makingup new solutions. By this means any solutions is entirely avoided. Allof the storage tanks 1 to 8 inclusive and tanks 93, 96 and 98 areconnectedthrough valve outlets in the bottom of said tanks with a pipe100 leading to the top of I a tank 101, Fig. 1. This tank is providedwith a stirripcg paddle 'or otheragitating means operat by a suitablemotor 102, by

means of which the sedimental matter trans-' waste of the ferred fromthe other tanks to tank 101 may be thoroughly. stirred up with water orother liquid, and after settling, the same can be transferred by airpressure from the tank 101 to the tank 103. By this means any of thechemicals in the solutions withand 10, are preferably provided withsuit'-' able heating means for the liquids contained therein,said'heating means being preferabl in'the form of a steam heating coilwhic will be hereinafter described, and all of said tanks are rovidedwith suitable thermometers and ydrometers indicating the temperature andspecific gravity of the liquids contained therein.

The specific construction of these several tanks :will-be bestunderstood by .reference to Fig. 12. As therein shown the tank is' aglass cylinder, though it isto be understood that all of the tanks onthe lower level except tanks 96 and 101 may be and preferably are ofsheet metal. Referring to Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive, but first to Fig.12, 105, indicates the bottom of the tank which may be of the concaveforms shown or of inverted cone form, to the end that all of thecontents of the 't'ank'may readily flow to the outlet port'106 in thebottom of the tank. Each of the storage tanks except tank 101 has asteam heating coil 17 y i f the solu- 107 connected to'steam line 107,

tions contained in the tanks may be raised this each of the tanks on thestorage floor to the desired degree. The liquid inlet pipe with theexception of tank 101, is provided 108, Fig. 12, enters the tank throughthe top With a float upon which the column of liqthereof and within saidpipe is a one-way uid 'entering the tank falls. This float flap valve109 which opens to permit the hop should be of an open or foraminousmateuid to pass in entering the tank 1 and autorial, and preferably isin the form of two matically closes to prevent the escape of air disks0f foraminous material 127, Figs. pressure when the latter is introducedinto and 16, of approximately the same diameter the tank for the purposeof transferring the as the interior diameter of the tank, and havliquidtherefrom. On the top of th tank is ing between them suitable means forfloatalso an air inlet valve 110, opening inward ing the disks on thesurface of the liquid.

to prevent the formation of a vacuum within As here shown, thisflotation means consists the tank but which, like the valve 109, dosesof a coil or pipe 128 closed ateach end, the

preceding description.

stood that these air-control pipes lead to the nous material whichreceives the column of under interior air pressure. The air prespipebeing preferably formed in a spiral sure inlet pipe 111 enters the topof thetank coil, as will be readily understood from an and is controlledby a valve 112, Fig. 13, inspection of Figs. 15 and 16. Preferablyoperated by an air motor 113 of any suitable the disks 127 of foraminousmaterial are seconstruction, the air-control pipes of which cured to thecoil of pipe by radiating ribs latter are indicated at 114, these pipes11 1 129 above and below the disks and secured corresponding to theair-control pipes-9 intogether by suitable bolts 130. Preferably dicatedin dotted linesand mentioned in the also the float is provided in itscentral por- It will be undertion with a conicalmember 131 offoramiswitchboard H, whereby the operator can liquid when it isdelivered into the tank and control the admission of air to or theexserves to separate and break the same, this haust of air from themotor 113. The. pisstill further contributing to the desired end, tonrod 115 of this air motor extends outviz, avoiding the stirring up 9fthe sediment ward through the opposite ends of the cylinin the bottom ofthe tank.

der and carries on the forked ends thereof will be observed ReferringtoFig: 1,.1t

pulleys 116,117. A cable 118 is connected that the air main 132 isconnected by suitable with spring 119 at one end and passes aroundbranch lines with all of the storage and other the pulley 116, and itsother end is contanks on the lower level and also with each nected to acrankarm 120 of the valve 112. of the tanks B, C, D, E and G, andfurther- Another cable 121, is connected to a second more, the valvescontrolling the flow of liqspring 122 at one end and passes around uidfrom the tanks B, C, D, E and G are likethe pulley 117 and 'is connectedat its other wise controlled by air pressure pipes 9, leadend also tothe crankarm 120 of the valve ing to the switchboard H. Still further,the

112. This is a well known form of valve control of the flow of thecontentsof tanks olperatin .air motor and as the construction Jtherefrom is controlled by air-control t ereof orms no part ofthepresent invenpipes also leading to the switchboard. Thls tion the sameneed not be more specifically places the control of all of the tanks inthe described. Motion of' the piston in one diplant absolutely underthehand of'the'operrection opens the valve 112 to admit air ator at theswitchboard.

pressure to the tank, and movement of the It will further be observedthat the waterpiston in the reverse direction closes the main pipe 82has branches leading therefrom valve to air pressure and opens thetankto to the funnels 7 9 and 83 and also to the water exhaust, thesemovements being controlled supply 81' for-the centrifugal 78.through-the admission of air to and its exhaust from the cylinder on theopposite sides 276m of the piston through the air-control pipes Let itbe assumed that the seed' to be 114. The outlet pipe 123 connects withthe separated has been introduced into the septank near the bottomthereof through a port arating tank A through the funnel 14 and 124 andis controlled by a gate valve 125, received in the basket 20. It will bespread" and by the flap valve 126 closing downward, or distributed insaid basket by the spreader to the end that said valve 126 will readily40 and will fall upon the upper surface of open to permit liquid to passunder. pressure the foraminous valve 31 Which, being open, upwardthrough said pipe but will close and will permit the seed to descendbetween the prevent the return of liquid from the pipe space between thepartitions 41 and the has ket 46, the valve 55 beihg closed. If it isdesired to wash the seeds before they are,

123 into the tank.

The liquid returning to the tank through pipe 108, if permitted to falldirectly into separated, water is introduced into the tank the liquid inthe tank in a large volume or 10 from the water pipe 82 throu h theunbroken stream, would be liable to stir up branch pipe 82, funnel 79and plpe 86. any sediment that had collected in the bot- Preferably thewater is heated in the tank tom of the tankgp'and in order to prevent 10through the medium of the steam coil adjacent said tank in the pipe 10'being open, air pressure is admitted through the branch air lineentering the top of tank" 10 and the water is forced through the pipe 10into the tank C, the valve of in the pipe 0 being closed as also thevalve 133 in the pipe 11 near the bottom of said tank C. By opening thevalve 0 and admitting air pressure to the top of the tank C, water istransferred from said tank through the pipe 0, the manifold F and thepipe 66 into the separating tank A. If it is desired to have the waterflow upward through the seed the valve 92' in the pipe E" is opened. andthe valve 91- in the pipe D is closed, and the water is delivered fromthe separating tank into the tank E. On the other hand, it may 4 bedesired to have the water in the separating tank surge up and downthrough the seeds confined between the partition 41 and the basket 46,it being understood of course that the valves 31 and 55 are closed.

In this case the valves 91 and 92'- are closed and air pressure isadmitted to the tank C. and the water forced through the manifold upinto the separating tank; the

.air pressure being then released from the tank C, the water rushesbackward into the pipe 66, the 'manifold F and the pipe 0.

The valve 0' is then closed and there will remain a certain amount ofwater in the pipe 66. the manifold F and the chamber 68. This water canbe drained out by turning the pipe 76 to deliver into the funnel 79,whence the water is returned through pipe '86 to tank 10.

The operator, having previously determined by laboratory experiment orotherwise the particular density of the gravity liquid necessary to beemployed in 'the' separation of the particular class of seeds undertreatment. selects the gravity liquid of the proper density from one ofthe tanks 1 to 8 inclusive, for example, tankv4. The gate valve 125,Fig. 12, of said tank being open. air pressure is applied by theoperator through the switchboard ,control' to' the top of tank 4 and theliquid therein is forced upward through the pipe 4' and'delivered intothe top of tank B, the valve I) being closed, as also the valve 134 inthe Y pipe leading from said tank B. The operator then, from theswitchboard, opens valve 6' in the pipe I) and also admits air underpressure to the top of the tank B, thereby forcing the gravity liquidsaid tank through the pipe b manifold F and the riser pipe 66 upwardinto theseparating tank A through the bottom thereof.

The mass of seeds contained between the v the level in the liquidcorresponding to their respective specific gravities, this preliminarystratification of the light and the heavy seeds must be broken up. Thiscan be accomplished by releasing the pressure in the tank B andpermitting the liquid to surge back into said tank; then reapplying thepressure and. forcing the liquid upward more, this separation may befacilitated by setting the stirring paddles'29" into operation, and byinjecting compressed air through the pipe 61 and the perforated ring 60immediately underthe basket 46. This action of the compressed air notonly serves to agitate the seeds in the system, breaking again into theseparating tank. Furtherup the preliminary stratifications which wouldobstruct the complete separation of the seeds according to theirspecific gravities,

butit also tends to free {the seeds from air bubbles which under somecircumstances are liable to cling to the individual seeds, therebyaltering the specific gravity of the body. Any one or all three of thesemeans foragi tating the mass of seeds and breaking up the preliminaryStratification may be employed.

This breaking. up of the preliminary stratification having been carriedto a suflicient degree to enable the lighter seeds to rise and theheavier seeds to settle in the gravity liquid, the said liquid in theseparatin tank A is permitted to become quiescent, w en it i 'will befound that the heavy seeds .whose specific gravity exceeds that of thegravity liquid employed Will settle to or towards the basket 46,v whilethe lighter seeds will stratify at or near the surface of the gravityliquid, assuming this surface to be below the partition 41. In someinstances an intermediate stratum between the upper and the lower stratawill be formed of seeds that are approximately of the same specificgravlt as that of the separating liquid employe L I The stratificationof the seeds as above described having become complete, the strata'.areremoved one ata time, each with its enveloping liquid, that is,with that portion of the liquid in the separating tank immedlatelysurrounding the particular stratum to be remoyed. By opening-thecone-shaped valve 55 the heavier seeds in the basket 46 Wlll descend'outof said basket through the pi e 66 into the foraminousbasket 67 and the0 ramber 68. Valve 55 is then closed. It will be understood that thepipe 66, the manifold, the.

permitting the liquid to flow therethrou h to the funnel 83 and thus bedirected by t 1e swinging pipe 84 through return pipe line 4 to the tank4, from which it was originally taken. When this is accomplished thepipe 76 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the valve 75opened, whereupon the seed in the foraminous basket 67 and the liquid inthe chamber 68 surrounding said basket, flow through the pipe 76 intothe centrifugal machine as it is being driven at a high speed by themotor 80. The liquid is thrown off by the centrifugal, while the seed,by reason of centrifugal action, is

retained therein, the liquid flowing to funnel 83 and thence back to thetank 4. The swinging pipe 84 is then turned so as to direct liquid fromthe funnel 83 into the salvage tank 96 and water is sprayedfroln thecontainer 81 onto the seed in a rapidly revolving centrifugal, therebywashing from the seed any of the gravity liquid still adhering thereto.This water, with such of the gravity liquid as is washed from the seed,is delivered into the tank 96.

Seeds having been washed free from the gravity liquid, the swinging pipe89 is adjusted to direct seed therethrough to any suitable drier orother point of delivery desired, and the centrifugal stopped, whereuponthe seed fall, by gravity, through and i are delivered by the swingingpipe 89.

As soon as the lowermost stratum of seed has all been delivered from thebasket 46 the Valve 55 is closed, thus preventiiig any stratumthereabove from passing downward until the first stratum has beendisposed of,

as above described, after which the next stratum, which is now thelowest stratum in the separating tank A, is permitted to pass into thebasket 67 as just described in connection with the first stratum. Thisoperation is continued, stratum after stratum, until all of the stratainto which the mass of seeds has been divided, are disposed of.

As before stated, it is sometimes desiredto separate different classesor species of seeds which are of substantially the same size andspecific gravity and which, therefore, if treated in the separating tankin their natural state, would not separate by gravity. Beforeintroducing such seeds into the separating tank therefor, it isdesirable to sub ect the seed to treatment for changing the relativebuoyancy of the different classes of seeds constltuting the mass to beseparated.

As above indicated, one method effecting this change in the relativebuoyancy in the mass of seeds is that of soaking the seeds, whereby oneclass 'of seeds readily absorbs the liquid in which the seeds aresoaked, whereas another. class of seeds being more impervious to thesoaking liquid, do not readily absorb the same. The result of this isthat the relative buoyancy ofthe two classes of seeds is changed so thatone of them will rise in a gravity liquid ofthe pi'oper density, whilethe other classwi'll-settle therein. For this purpose the tanks J areprovided, into which the seeds are introduced. through hoppers 135.lVater from tank 10, preferably heated to a temperature between and 165F. is then elevated by air pressure and iptroduced from the tank 10 tothe tank- (i. 133 is opened and air pressure is introduced I to the tankC, thereby forcing water through the pipe 11 to the tanks J, suitablevalves being employed, as indicated, to direct the water to theparticular one of these tanks desired. The seeds are then permitted tosoak in the warm water in the tanks J, preferablyfor a period of fromfifteento twentyfive minutes, and are then transferred from the tanks Jthrough the pipe 12 and delivered into the top of the separating tank A.This transfer may be effected by any suit-able power means, dependingsomewhat upon the location of the tank, and as here shown the pump 13 isemployed for this purpose, but it will be readily understood that if thetanks J were elevated above the separating tank A'such transfer might beeffected by gravity.

The soaked seeds, together with the liquid,

preferably water in most instances,'in which they are soaked, iavingbeen transferred into the separating tank A and delivered between thepartition 41 and the perforated basket 46 in which latter they are heldby the closed valves 31 and 55, the water is drained out through thepipe 66, the manifold F, the pipe 74 and the swinging pipe 76 into thefunnel 79 and thence by wayof the pipe 86 to the tank 10. This havingbeen accomplished the proper gravity liquid is then selected by theoperator and the seeds treated as heretofore described.

If desired the gravity liquid used in separating the seeds may bepermitted to flow upward through the mass of seeds and, the valve 92'being closed and the valve 91 opened, passes through the pipe D into thetank D.

Either the water that is permitted to flow 1nto the tank E or thegravity liquid into the tank D can be forced therefrom by way of themanifold F and the pipe 66 into the I The valve 0 is then closed and thevalve separating tank and can be caused to surge amount of salvagedliquid becomes greater than the capacity of the tank 96 the tank 98furnishes an additional storage space therefor.

When it is desiredto make up a new batch of gravity liquid in any one ofthe tanks 1 to 8 inclusive, the salvaged liquid from the tank 98 may betransferred therefrom by air pressure through-the pipe 99 and directedinto the funnel 83, from which 1t may be directed .to any one of thetanks 1 to 8 desired.

As heretofore described, the bottoms of the respective storage tanksareall so formed as to receive and collect sediment from said tanks inthe bottoms thereof, and the bottoms of all of these tanks are directlyconnected with a pipe 100, the'connections being controlled by suitablevalves. Whenever the sediment that is collected in any one of the tanksis desired to be removed therefrom the valve in said connectionis openedand the sediment forced out, under air pressure admitted to the tank,into the pipe 100 by which it is delivered to the top of the-sedimenttank 101. This tank is provided with agitating means in the form ofstirring paddlesfor thoroughly stirring up the sediment which is thenallowed to settle n said tank, and the gravity liquid of value is thentransferred by air pressure from tank 101 to tank 103, the sludge orwaste material of the sediment-in tank 101 being then withdrawn from thebottom of the tank into the waste or sewer pipe 85. The liquid recoveredin tank 103 can be forced by air pressure through the pipe 104 anddelivered into the funnel 83 from which it can be distributed to any oneof the tanks 1 to 8 desired.

In some cases it may be desired to use a peculiar gravity liquid out ofthe usual or the ordinary, or to have ready for various purposes inconnection with the separation, a liquid other than thegravity solutionsand the water as heretofore described. Thcre is, therefore, provided atank 93 which can 'be utilized to contain any desired liquid whetherwater .or other liquid or a solution of any desired strength. Thistankis connected by pipe 94 directly with tank G, and the liquid from thetank 93 can be transferred by air pressure, as in the other cases,v

to the tank G. From the tank G the liquid contained therein is availablefor use in any one of the tanks 1 to 8 inclusive.

When one batch of seeds has been separated and is to be followed by abatch of different kind, it is highly important. to. entirely free theseparating tank from any of the seeds of the previous batch that mightadhere therein. This is accomplished by spraying water into the basket20 and the interior of the tank A throu h the perforated water ring 56,and also liy spraying water through the perforated water ring i of theother tanks B, C, D and E, or any I below the partition 41, this spraywater being directed through the funnel 83 either to the water tank 10'or to the waste pipe 85 as desired.

When it is desired to have the liquld 1n the separating tank A flowdownward and out of the tank while a mass of seeds is held in the basket46, the seeds are liable to pack in the basket and obstruct the readyflow of the liquid from the separating tank. In order to avoid this thecolumn 21 is provided with the perforations 43, which perforations arecovered by foraminous material 44, the openings through which are smallenough to retain the finest seeds to be treated. When the liquid isflowing out through these perforations 43, the valve 45 automaticallyopens b reason of its weight and the downward ow and permits thedownward flow of the liquid. On the other hand, when there is an upwardcurrent of the liquidflowing into the separating tank, said upwardcurrent acts to close the valve 45, thus forcing the liquid upwardthrough the perforated basket 46.

The pipe 62 with its connecting branches 62', 62" and opening to theatmosphere at 63, permits the ready entrance of air to the separatingtank and exit therefrom, thereby permitting the ready movement of thecurrents of'liquid as desired into or through the separating tank.

It will be observed that the operation of the valves 31 and 55 in theseparating tank,

tom stratum to pass from the tank; and in fact is in a position tointelligently control the entire operation of the device.

The apparatus thus far descr1bed-- contemplates the removal of eachstratum, after the same is formed in the gravity liquid,

from the separating tank through the bottom thereof. Insome instances,however, it

